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Signal Mountain managers outline emergency-response coordination, urge resident registration and preparedness
Summary
Town staff reviewed local emergency-response preparations, proposed tours of the county emergency communications center, and discussed outreach measures including 72-hour kits, cell-phone alerting by area, and creating a registry for residents who need assistance during evacuations.
Town Manager Matt presented a memo on emergency response to the Signal Mountain Town Council at its March 24 work session, reviewing the town's role in local incidents and its coordination with Hamilton County agencies.
Matt said recent wildfires and a winter storm prompted staff to revisit plans for forecasting, preparing and executing local responses. He proposed tours of the Hamilton County Emergency Communications Center on Amnicola Highway so council members and key town staff can observe county capabilities and discuss evacuation planning. "I put together just a brief memo to kind of, state what our actions and what we can control here, what we'll be doing," Matt said.
Council members emphasized resident communication and special-needs outreach. One council member noted that Signal Mountain has only a few reliable access routes and raised the question of how the town would notify and, if needed, assist residents who cannot self-evacuate. Matt said the county can push cell-phone alerts by geographic area and that the town should not rely on a single channel. He supported the idea of developing a registry for residents needing assistance during evacuations and said staff, police and fire could coordinate to manage such a list.
The council also discussed promoting preparedness actions to residents, including signing up for county emergency alerts and preparing 72-hour emergency kits. The town manager said staff will work with the police and fire departments to develop a communications plan, update the website with preparedness resources, arrange the county tour, and report back following an April 4 meeting with county emergency-management staff about evacuation drills.
